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McConnel, James Henry (1850–1914)

We published a short note in last month's Review referring to the death of Mr. James Henry McConnel, of Cressbrook, Queensland, one of the best-known breeders of Hereford cattle in Australia.

The late Mr. McConnel was born in 1850, at Bulimba (then known by the native name of Toogoolawah), Brisbane. At the age of three years he went with his parents to England, where they lived for the next ten years. During that period he attended the Edinburgh Academy, and was for a short time at school at St. Helier's, Jersey. He returned to Queensland in 1864, and for four years studied under tutors at Cressbrook. At the end of this time he again went to England, and studied for two years at Emanuel College, Cambridge. He was obliged to leave the University in 1870, before, taking his degree, in order to help his father at Cressbrook, and in the following year he took over the management of the station.

In 1876, Mr. McConnel married the eldest daughter of Mr. William Kent, of Jondaryan, and went into partnership with his father under the title of Messrs. D. C. McConnel and Son. In 1884, Mr. D. C. McConnel died in London, and Mr. J. H. McConnel exercised his right of purchase, and bought out the whole business, in which he was joined by his three brothers and one sister. A condensed-milk factory was started on Cressbrook, and in 1905, with 3000 acres of land, was sold to Nestle's Anglo-Swiss Company.

During the last nine or ten years a fine Hereford stud has been kept up at Cressbrook, numbers of bulls, personally selected by the late Mr. McConnel, having been imported from England. Mr. J. H. McConnel was beloved by a large circle of friends, and was always ready; with his help for any charitable or Church of England object. His death makes a big gap in Southern Queensland.

Cressbrook is now managed by Mr. Edgar Cannon McConnel, who was born at Cressbrook in 1881.

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Citation details

'McConnel, James Henry (1850–1914)', Obituaries Australia, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, http://oa.anu.edu.au/obituary/mcconnel-james-henry-1224/text1209, accessed 15 September 2019.